Improvement in spring-bottom vehicles



J. S. MERRILL; Improvement 'in Spring Bottom Vehicles N0.123, 409, I Patented'Fe E.6, 1872.

Witnesses.. Inventor.

JOSHUA S. MERRILL, OF TITUSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SPRING-BOTTOM VEHICLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 123,409, dated February 6, 1872.

structing the spring-bottoms of carriages of thin strips or plates of elastic steel bent into semielliptic form and connected together by cross-ties and braces, as setforth in the description below. The advantages obtained in my invention are in constructing a strong and light springcarriage or buggy for rough roads which will combine strength with elasticity, and at the same time to be so constructed as to permit the forward wheel in turning to run under the carriage-bottom, thereby permitting it to turn in narrow roads.

Description.

Figure 2 represents my invention in one of its formsi. 0., when the same is constructed of narrow strips of metal. Fig. 3 represents it when constructed of one entire sheet of metal or other elastic material.

E E, Fig. 2, represent the axle; D D, the front and rear head-blocks. l 2 3 4 5 are narrow springs of steel bent in a half-elliptical form, as shown in the drawing. The ends of these springs are bolted 011 the head-blocks D D. Y H It are cross-pieces or ties of wood or metal bolted to the springs to keep them in their proper position. W W are the supports 011 which the seat is placed. These are bolted to the center crosstie H. O G is a double brace, shaped like a letter V, through the point of which the king-bolt passes, the other end of the arms being bolted to the cross-tie Y. S S are also braces clipped or bolted to the axle at E, and attached to the cross-tie R by a joint at S; or for light buggies, instead of a joint at S, the brace may be hammered thin, so that it will spring, and thereby accommodate itselffo the spring of the bottom. WVhen it is desired to hawe a foot-board, as B B, two of the springs, 2 and 4, may be bent, as shown at m m, Fig. 1, on which the foot-board B B with the dash A is bolted; and the rear end may be constructed in a similar manner for a boot or trunk-board.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

I claim the springs l 2 3 4 5, in combination with the cross-ties Y E It and the braces O O and S S, constructed as described for the purposes set forth.

Witnesses: JOSHUA S. MERRILL.

A. B. RICHMOND, Ron REISINGER. 

